When Mike Babcock was taking stock of the company inventory last summer, he didn’t exactly feel that Leo Komarov was the most important product on the shelf.

Was Komarov a worker? Well, sure. Did he have some sandpaper in those unique skates? Clearly, and that never hurts. Was he a player unafraid of going to the net? Probably the way he made it to the NHL, so yes again.

But did Babcock see the hard-edged Komarov as a candidate to challenge for the Leafs scoring lead as the team heads into 2016 on the calendar and toward the midway point of the season? Not exactly.

So here we have Komarov, a point-a-game player over the past 19 contests and with 27 total, only one behind team leader James van Riemsdyk, a player clearly cut from a different NHL cloth. Among the pleasant surprises to emerge so far this season, the Russian-speaking Finn has been high on the list for the Leafs and their coach.

“He’s been way better than I expected,” Babcock said on Monday after the team practised Monday at the Honda Center, Day 1 of seven in Southern California in a three-game road trip that starts here Wednesday against the Ducks.

“I didn’t know he was as talented, could make the plays, have the edge, have the hockey sense, (that he) had the desire and the size and the strength. I didn’t know that about him. I know he’s a way better player than I anticipated, which is really good for us.”

On a team that speculation said would be a lock to have trouble scoring, Komarov has defied all logic, putting up numbers that have already destroyed the best in his limited NHL career. With 27 points in 37 games — including a team-high 15 goals — Komarov already has one more point than his previous best for a full NHL season.

The 28-year-old native of Estonia presumably knows the type of player he is — and isn’t expecting the production to continue at such a pace. But the way he is wired and the way goals seem to be scored in today’s NHL, don’t bet against it.

“I think it’s pretty similar to what I played last year, but it’s just kind of bouncing in,” Komarov said with a shrug. “I’m getting a little more ice time than I had (in the past), so it feels like I’m in the game all the time. It’s really good, but I could do even better.”

In the first five games of the season, Komarov was averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time a night. Lately though, skating on a line with Nazem Kadri and Michael Grabner, Komarov has topped 20 minutes regularly, clearly winning over the trust of Babcock.

“If you play more, it’s easier to play more minutes,” Komarov said. “In every situation (power play, penalty kill, even strength), it’s way different.”

As his centre, Kadri has worked on improving in the more difficult areas of the ice and he’s likely benefited from Komarov’s proximity. At the least, he appreciates what he sees from his linemate.

“He’s a workhorse, a tough guy who competes every single day,” Kadri said. “The work ethic is never an issue with him. In today’s game, nothing happens to be pretty.”

Some players, such as teammate Joffrey Lupul, who is clearly blessed with more natural skill than Komarov, can equal parts marvel and chuckle at the production from an unlikely source.

“I don’t think anyone would predict him to be our leading scorer, but its a product of hard work for him,” Lupul said. “He’s always played really consistently, though — he’s a hard worker. The goals he is getting, they’re coming from right around the net, so it doesn’t seem like it’s going to dry up or anything. It doesn’t seem like he’s getting lucky or anything.

“I think that’s just the way that goals are being scored in the whole league. Guys aren’t scoring from shots off the wing any more, it’s more you’ve got to get in front and battle for position.”

Babcock will take the production, of course, especially from a team that earlier in the season could barely find the back of the net.

But perhaps more importantly, Komarov’s success is helping the coach’s own sales job with the retooling team.

“He plays hard,” Babcock said. “When you play hard, you make players around you play hard and you make people better.”

The feisty Leafs forward posted a picture to his Instagram account of Brewer sporting a Team Finland jersey at Pearson Airport on Sunday, clearly a winning wager for the proud Finn.

“I have no idea, you’d have to ask (Brewer),” Komarov said, later acknowledging the wager on the outcome of Saturday’s Canada-Finland quarterfinal at the world junior championship.

Komarov, a two-time veteran for the Finns at the world juniors, said the bet was a no-brainer to him.

“I was pretty sure Finland was going to win,” Komarov said. “It was just a fun thing. It’s going to be a big game (Tuesday versus Sweden for the gold medal) for sure.”

BERNIER GETS THE CALL

Mike Babcock has long given up predicting what is going to happen in his team’s net, so he kept it simple on Monday.

All we know — for now — is that Jonathan Bernier will get a chance to continue his hot play and will get the start against the Ducks here on Wednesday.

Beyond that, wait and see.

James Reimer, out since early December with a groin injury, accompanied the team and is itching to get back in action. But whether that happens Thursday up the California coast in Los Angeles remains to be seen.

“It’s feeling really good so I’m really looking forward to (returning),” Reimer said. “It’s still a day at a time.”

Reimer and Bernier were both on the ice for the team’s afternoon practice at the Honda Center, both looking for more action. The team is still in precautionary mode, however, especially after Reimer had a setback last week in Pittsburgh and the team had to summon Antoine Bibeau from the Marlies.

Bibeau was enroute to California on Monday along with forward Mark Arcobello in case there is another issue.

“I don’t know the situation,” Babcock said of the rest of the week in California. “We’ve got to practice (Tuesday) so don’t have to spend any time thinking about it.”

Bernier, meanwhile, is keen on continuing the run that has seen him win his last two games and a return to confidence after his horrid start to the season.

“It’s game by game — if I get the call next game, I’m happy,” Bernier said. “I can’t control who is going to play, but If I do (start), I just have to make sure I’m prepared and ready to play.”

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